When should you have allergen testing performed in your home?
It seems these days, everyone is allergic to something. It may be food, flowers, grasses, pets, other people. The reasons why may be very simple.
1. With the affect that electronics have had on our lifestyle (video games, internet, cell phones, facebook/twitter, fear of letting our children outside) we and our children have not been exposed to nature like the "old days". Kids don't just go out and play for hours on end anymore. They sit in front of TVs, Nintendo DSs and computers. Their immune system doesn't get a chance to be exposed to the natural environment at a young age and therefore doesn't develop the resistance to outdoor influences.
2. They newer housing is much more energy efficient and doesn't breath like before so when things are not thoroughly maintained and moisture affects the indoor environment or if the HVAC system is not functioning or maintained properly, we are exposed to contaminants more than may have occurred in the past.
3. I think our food and the additives in it are compromising our immune system and reducing our body's ability to fight off contaminants.
What can you do to counter these things:
Only you can decide to change your eating habits and reduce processed food. If you saw me, you would realize that I'm not good at it either.
We are not going to make our housing less energy efficient and poke holes in the exterior walls of the home.
If you or a family member is experiencing respiratory discomfort in the home, have the home tested for allergens. Most folks think in terms of mold and that is a frequent contributor, but there are also dust mites, cockroaches, dog or cat dander, or rodent droppings.
There can also be what are referred to as Volatile Organic Compunds (VOCs). These are gases that are emitted from construction materials, adhesives, foam insulation or cleaning solvents.
If you have elderly parents who are suffering from COPD, everyday materials or cleaning solutions in their home can irritate them.
What type of tests are available?
When a doctor (allergist, pediatrician, Oncologist) refers their patient to me, we usually start with testing for mold which is the cheapest and most frequent source of the problem.
If that is either negative or does not completely solve the problem, then the next step would be allergen testing. This could be done as part of the initial assessment but I normally prefer to eliminate one thing at a time so as not to spend money unless you know you need to.
Lastly, we can perform MVOC testing to detect the presence of hidden mold gases as well as the top ten chemicals in the air on a given level of the home. These are more expensive and I usually leave these until all less expensive and more likely causes have been addressed.
You don't have to change your lifestyle, just be aware of conditions that come up and take the approriate steps to correct them and you should be able to enjoy life.